Although his name will still appear on the electoral ballot, independent candidate Lo Fu-chu (羅福助) announced yesterday that he will withdraw from the year-end legislative elections.
Lo, who was running for a seat in Taipei County's first electoral district, said his withdrawal has nothing to do with rumors of insufficient campaign funds.
Lo said his 83-year-old mother had asked him not re-enter politics because with both Lo and his brother Lo Ming-tsai (羅明財) campaigning, there would be nobody to take care of the family business.
Lo said that since it was impossible for him to do his duty to the country and his duty to his parents at the same time, he decided to pull out of the race.
The Central Election Commission, however, does not have a procedure for the post-registration withdrawal of candidates, so Lo's name will still appear on the ballot.
When asked what he would do if he won a seat despite his withdrawal, Lo said he would take up the seat in order not to disappoint the hopes of the people.
But he said the chances of his winning without campaigning were slim.
He said his pull-out would have pros and cons for both the pan-green and pan-blue camps.
According to a pan-blue camp campaign official, Lo's campaign was initially going to make use of the vote captains and contacts of former DPP legislator Chou Po-lun (周伯倫), and would probably have taken as many green votes as blue ones.
The official said Lo's withdrawal would benefit both parties equally.
A pan-green campaign official said that Lo's campaign style was likely to draw blue votes, but since parties were more important that individual candidates this time, the effect of Lo's withdrawal on the election would be minimal.
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